11 suspects involved in various cases of rape and defilement have been arrested by the Anambra state Police Command.
The arrests followed an obscene video clip that went viral on July 11 showing a young lady aged 19 years being gang-raped by a group of boys.
A Press Statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga said investigation revealed that the incident happened at Orama-etiti, Anam in Anambra West local government area of the state.
The statement said the Police at Otuocha collaborated with the local vigilante in the area and arrested six suspects involved in the criminal act.
They are: Chinua Obikezie, aged 17 years; Collins Ogbodo, 19; Ifeanyi Chijoke 17; Abuchi Ikechukwu 17; Ezenwa Afam, 18, and Sunday Okafor, 27.
Three other suspects implicated in the felonious act are still at large.
During interrogation, all six suspects confessed to taking part in the crime.
In a similar development, Police operatives who were on joint patrol with the local vigilante in Abagana, Njikoka local government area on July 8 arrested three individuals for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl.
The suspects are: Chimezie Odugwu aged 21, Nnamdi Anodebe aged 19, and Jude Onua aged 48.
According to the confessional statements of the suspects, they had found the victim wandering unaccompanied at Abagana junction, where Chimezie lured her to Nnamdi’s house in the same locality, whereupon both individuals had carnal knowledge of her.
As she departed the suspect’s house in tears, Jude, on the pretext of giving her shelter, took the victim to his house where he raped her before she was rescued by the joint team of Police and Vigilantes.
Similarly, Police Operatives from Ekwulobia Division arrested one Chinenye Ezemehege, 41, in connection to the case of defilement of a 13-year-old girl.
The suspect, who claims to be a Security Guard at the market, confessed to the act, saying he had been paying the girl between 500 to 1000 naira for her “services”.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim’s parents were in the habit of sending her to fetch firewood at the Ekwulobia Market.
Also ,police Operatives attached to Atani Division in Ogbaru local government area on July 13 arrested one Odimako Ikenga, 38, from Ossomala Village, Ogbaru.
He has been on the Police wanted list regarding an ongoing investigation into a case of defilement of a 12-year-old girl, which was reported to the Police-Station on August 28, 2022.
The Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye commended men and officers of the Force and the vigilantes for “being alive to their responsibility to society”.
He expressed the determination to tackle headlong the menace of sexual crime and gender-based violence in the State.
He also directed that all suspects indicted in the course of the investigation be immediately arraigned in court after investigation has been concluded.
